JP7829464B2 - Dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a dispensing container.

Conventionally, dispensing containers are known that comprise a bottomed cylindrical container body with a mouth, and a dispensing cylinder member extending upward from the mouth, with its upper opening communicating with the inside of the container body, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1 below.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-89754

With conventional dispensing containers, once the contents are used up, the dispensing cylinder is removed from the opening, the upper end of the opening is left open, and then, for example, other contents are poured into the container body through the opening. After that, the dispensing cylinder is reattached to the opening, meaning there is a risk that the dispensing container may be reused.
In particular, if the contents of the container are pharmaceuticals such as cosmetics, there is a risk that proper use, including dosage and administration instructions, may be compromised, raising concerns about the reuse of the dispensing container as mentioned above.

This invention provides a dispensing container in which the dispensing cylinder member, once removed from the opening, cannot be reattached to the opening.

A dispensing container according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a bottomed cylindrical container body having a mouth, a stopper member inserted into the mouth and having a communication hole formed therein that communicates with the inside of the container body, a dispensing cylinder member extending upward from the mouth and having an upper end opening that communicates with the communication hole, and a ring member sandwiched between the inner circumferential surface of the mouth and the outer circumferential surface of the stopper member. The lower end of the stopper member has an engaging projection that protrudes radially outward from the lower end opening of the ring member, and the force required to pull the ring member upward from inside the mouth is greater than the force required to pull the stopper member upward from inside the ring member.

Since the force required to pull the ring member upward from inside the opening is greater than the force required to pull the inner stopper member upward from inside the ring member, when the inner stopper member is pulled up relative to the container body, the ring member remains inside the opening, while the inner stopper member can be pulled out from both the ring member and the opening.
Furthermore, when attempting to refit the stopper member into the ring member, an engaging projection is formed on the lower end of the stopper member, protruding radially outward from the lower end opening of the ring member. This engaging projection then abuts against the upper end opening edge of the ring member, preventing the stopper member and dispensing cylinder member, once removed from the opening, from being reattached to the opening.

The engaging projection may extend continuously along its entire circumferential length.

Since the engaging projection extends continuously along the entire length in the circumferential direction, when the inner plug member is fitted into the ring member and the ring member and inner plug member are attached to the opening, it is possible to stabilize the relative vertical position of the ring member and inner plug member along the entire length in the circumferential direction, and the ring member and inner plug member can be easily attached to the opening.
Since the engaging projection extends continuously along its entire circumferential length, even if the engaging projection is formed by bending the lower end of the cylindrical stopper member so that it extends radially outward, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the engaging projection downward while simultaneously moving radially inward. This ensures that the stopper member and dispensing cylinder member, once removed from the opening, cannot be reattached to the opening.

The engaging projection may be spaced radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the opening.

Since the engaging projection is set radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the opening, it is possible to suppress the sliding of the engaging projection against the inner circumferential surface of the opening when attaching the ring member and the inner plug member to the opening, allowing for easy and accurate attachment of the ring member and the inner plug member to the opening.

According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the inner stopper member and the dispensing cylinder member, once removed from the opening, can be made unable to be reattached to the opening.

This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the main part of a dispensing container according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shows the state after the inner stopper member has been pulled out from the ring member and the opening.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in Figure 1, the dispensing container 1 of this embodiment comprises a container body 11, an inner stopper member 12, a dispensing cylinder member 13, a coating member 14, and a cap 15. The contents to be contained in the container body 11 include, for example, pharmaceuticals such as cosmetics. The container body 11 is made of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the inner stopper member 12, the dispensing cylinder member 13, and the coating member 14 are made of, for example, polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).
Note that the dispensing container 1 does not necessarily have to have the coating member 14 and the cap 15.

The container body 11 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with a mouth 21 and a bottom, the inner stopper member 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the dispensing cylinder member 13, coating member 14, and cap 15 are formed in a topped cylindrical shape. The container body 11, inner stopper member 12, dispensing cylinder member 13, coating member 14, and cap 15 are arranged coaxially with a common axis O.
The side of the container body 11 with the opening 21 that aligns with the common axis O is called the upper side, and the side of the container body 11 with the bottom that aligns with the common axis O is called the lower side. The direction along the common axis O is called the vertical direction. The direction that intersects the common axis O when viewed from the vertical direction is called the radial direction, and the direction that circles around the common axis O when viewed from the vertical direction is called the circumferential direction.

The outer circumferential surface of the upper part 21a of the mouth 21 of the container body 11 is recessed radially inward from the outer circumferential surface of the lower part 21b, which is located below the upper part 21a. A male threaded portion is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lower part 21b of the mouth 21. A cap 15 is detachably screwed onto this male threaded portion. Alternatively, the cap 15 may be detachably fitted onto the mouth 21.

The inner stopper member 12 is inserted into the mouth portion 21. The inner surface of the cylindrical inner stopper member 12 forms a communication hole 25 that communicates with the container body 11. The outer circumferential surface of the inner stopper member 12 is radially separated inward from the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion 21. A flange portion 22 is formed at the upper end of the inner stopper member 12, projecting radially outward and extending continuously along its entire circumferential length. The outer circumferential edge of the lower surface of the flange portion 22 rests on the upper opening edge of the mouth portion 21. A connecting cylinder 23 is formed on the outer circumferential edge of the upper surface of the flange portion 22, projecting upward. The connecting cylinder 23 is arranged coaxially with the common axis O.

The dispensing cylinder member 13 is formed in a topped cylindrical shape, having a top dispensing wall 26 and a circumferential dispensing wall 27, and extends upward from the opening 21.

The dispensing perimeter wall 27 comprises a lower cylinder 27a, an upper cylinder 27b, and a stepped portion 27c.
The lower cylinder 27a is fitted onto the upper part 21a of the mouth portion 21.
The stepped portion 27c connects the upper end of the lower cylinder 27a and the lower end of the upper cylinder 27b. In the illustrated example, the stepped portion 27c radially connects the upper edge of the lower cylinder 27a and the portion of the lower end of the upper cylinder 27b that is located above the lower edge of the upper cylinder 27b. The lower surface of the stepped portion 27c, the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of the lower cylinder 27a, and the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the upper cylinder 27b define a fitting groove 29 that opens downward and extends continuously along the entire length in the circumferential direction. The connecting cylinder 23 of the plug member 12 is fitted into the fitting groove 29. The pressing wall portion 15a provided inside the cap 15 is pressed against the upper surface of the stepped portion 27c. The pressing wall portion 15a has its front and back surfaces facing vertically and extends continuously along the entire length in the circumferential direction.
The upper cylinder 27b is formed to have a smaller diameter than the lower cylinder 27a and extends upward from the radial inner end of the stepped portion 27c. The lower end of the upper cylinder 27b protrudes downward from the radial inner end of the stepped portion 27c. The dispensing top wall 26 protrudes radially inward from the upper end of the upper cylinder 27b.

The top dispensing wall 26 extends upward as it moves radially inward. A dispensing hole (upper opening) 28, which communicates with the communication hole 25, is formed in the top dispensing wall 26. The dispensing hole 28 is arranged coaxially with the common axis O. A dispensing cylinder 26a, projecting upward, is formed at the peripheral edge of the opening of the dispensing hole 28 on the upper surface of the top dispensing wall 26. A sealing projection 15b, provided inside the cap 15, is detachably fitted onto the dispensing cylinder 26a. The sealing projection 15b extends continuously along its entire circumferential length.

The coating member 14 comprises a coating stopper 35 and a spring member 36. The coating member 14 is made of a resin material and is integrally formed with the inner stopper member 12.

The spring member 36 extends upward from the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of the communication hole 25.
The coating plug 35 is formed in a topped cylindrical shape having a coating top wall 35a and a coating peripheral wall, and extends upward from the upper end of the spring member 36. The coating plug 35 is inserted into the dispensing hole 28 and the dispensing cylinder 26a so as to be movable downward in an upward biased state. The coating top wall 35a protrudes upward from inside the dispensing cylinder 26a. The diameter of the lower end of the coating peripheral wall is larger than the diameter of the upper part located above the lower end, and a second stage portion 35b facing upward is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the coating peripheral wall at the connection point between the lower end and the upper part. The second stage portion 35b extends downward as it is directed radially outward. The second stage portion 35b abuts against the opening peripheral edge of the dispensing hole 28 on the lower surface of the dispensing top wall 26 so as to be able to move away downward, blocking communication between the communication hole 25 and the dispensing hole 28.

In this embodiment, a ring member 31 is provided sandwiched between the inner circumferential surface of the opening 21 and the outer circumferential surface of the stopper member 12. The ring member 31 is liquid-tightly fitted into the upper part 21a of the opening 21 and liquid-tightly fitted onto the stopper member 12. The inner diameter of the ring member 31 is the same along its entire length in the vertical direction.
The inner plug member 12 may be loosely fitted or tightly fitted into the ring member 31. The space between the lower surface of the flange portion 22 and the upper opening edge of the mouth portion 21 may be sealed.

An engaging projection 32 is formed at the lower end of the inner plug member 12, projecting radially outward from the lower end opening of the ring member 31. The engaging projection 32 is formed by bending the lower end of the inner plug member 12 so that it extends radially outward as it goes downward.
As it extends downwards, it extends radially outward. The engaging projection 32 extends continuously along its entire circumferential length. The engaging projection 32 is radially separated inward from the inner circumferential surface of the opening 21.

The engaging projection 32 is formed, for example, as follows.
First, the ring member 31 is fitted onto the inner plug member 12, which extends straight vertically along its entire vertical length before the engaging projection 32 is formed. Then, the lower end of the inner plug member 12 is bent outward in the radial direction to form the engaging projection 32. After that, the ring member 31 is fitted into the opening 21.

The force required to pull the ring member 31 upward from inside the opening 21 is greater than the force required to pull the inner plug member 12 upward from inside the ring member 31.
In the illustrated example, a first projection 33 is formed on either the inner circumferential surface of the opening 21 or the outer circumferential surface of the ring member 31, which presses against the other. The first projection 33 extends continuously along the entire length in the circumferential direction and is provided in multiples at intervals in the vertical direction. The first projection 33 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the ring member 31, but it may also be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the opening 21.
A second projection 34 is formed on either the inner circumferential surface of the ring member 31 or the outer circumferential surface of the plug member 12, which presses against the other. The second projection 34 extends continuously along the entire length in the circumferential direction and is provided in multiples at intervals in the vertical direction. The second projection 34 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the plug member 12, but it may also be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the ring member 31.
The quantity of the first protrusion 33 is greater than the quantity of the second protrusion 34.

The force required to pull the dispensing cylinder member 13 upward relative to the inner stopper member 12 and to pull the connecting cylinder 23 out of the fitting groove 29 is greater than the force required to pull the inner stopper member 12 upward from inside the ring member 31.
Furthermore, the former's power may be less than or equal to the latter's power.
In this case, when the dispensing tube member 13 is pulled up relative to the inner stopper member 12, the inner stopper member 12 remains inside the ring member 31 while the dispensing tube member 13 is pulled out from the inner stopper member 12. Therefore, after removing the dispensing tube member 13, the upper end opening of the mouth 21 cannot be opened unless the inner stopper member 12 is pulled out again. This makes it easier to discourage the user from pouring other contents into the container body 11 through the mouth 21 when the contents inside the container body 11 have been used up (refill deterrent effect).

As described above, with the dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment, the force required to pull the ring member 31 upward from inside the mouth 21 is greater than the force required to pull the inner stopper member 12 upward from inside the ring member 31. Therefore, when the inner stopper member 12 is pulled up relative to the container body 11, the ring member 31 remains inside the mouth 21, while the inner stopper member 12 can be pulled out from both the ring member 31 and the mouth 21.
Then, when attempting to refit the stopper member 12 into the ring member 31, the engaging projection 32, which protrudes radially outward from the lower end opening of the ring member 31, is formed on the lower end of the stopper member 12. As a result, the engaging projection 32 abuts against the upper end opening edge of the ring member 31, preventing the stopper member 12 and the dispensing cylinder member 13, once removed from the mouth 21, from being reattached to the mouth 21.

Since the engaging projection 32 extends continuously along its entire circumferential length, when the inner plug member 12 is fitted into the ring member 31 and the ring member 31 and inner plug member 12 are attached to the opening 21, it becomes possible to stabilize the relative vertical position of the ring member 31 and inner plug member 12 along their entire circumferential length, allowing the ring member 31 and inner plug member 12 to be easily attached to the opening 21.

Since the engaging projection 32 extends continuously along its entire circumferential length, even if the engaging projection 32 is formed by bending the lower end of the cylindrical stopper member 12 so that it extends radially outward, it is possible to suppress deformation of the engaging projection 32 downward while simultaneously bending radially inward. This ensures that the stopper member 12 and dispensing cylinder member 13, once removed from the opening 21, cannot be reattached to the opening 21.

Since the engaging projection 32 is spaced radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the opening 21, it is possible to suppress the sliding of the engaging projection 32 along the inner circumferential surface of the opening 21 when attaching the ring member 31 and the inner plug member 12 to the opening 21. This allows the ring member 31 and the inner plug member 12 to be attached to the opening 21 easily and accurately.

Furthermore, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, the engaging projection 32 may be provided at only one location in the circumferential direction on the inner plug member 12, or it may be provided intermittently in the circumferential direction.
The engaging projection 32 may abut against the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion 21.
A fitting groove 29 may be formed in the inner stopper member 12, and a connecting cylinder 23 may be formed in the dispensing cylinder member 13. Alternatively, the fitting groove 29 and the connecting cylinder 23 may not be provided, and the inner stopper member 12 may not be held inside the dispensing cylinder member 13. In the latter case, the aforementioned refill deterrent effect can be achieved.
It is not necessary to form a dispensing tube 26a on the top wall 26 of the dispensing nozzle.

The configuration that makes the force required to pull the ring member 31 upward from the opening 21 greater than the force required to pull the stopper member 12 upward from the ring member 31 may be appropriately modified, for example, by making the interference fit between the inner circumferential surface of the opening 21 and the outer circumferential surface of the ring member 31 greater than the interference fit between the inner circumferential surface of the ring member 31 and the outer circumferential surface of the stopper member 12, or by making the surface roughness of the outer circumferential surface of the ring member 31 greater than the surface roughness of the inner circumferential surface of the ring member 31.

Furthermore, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, it is possible to replace the components in the above embodiments with well-known components, and the above embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate.

1 Dispensing container 11 Container body 12 Inner stopper member 13 Dispensing cylinder member 21 Mouth 25 Communication hole 28 Dispensing hole (upper end opening)
31 Ring member 32 Engaging projection

Claims (3)

A cylindrical container body with a bottom and an opening,
An inner stopper member is inserted into the opening and has a communication hole formed therein that communicates with the container body,
A dispensing cylinder member extending upward from the aforementioned opening, with its upper end opening communicating with the aforementioned communication hole,
The system comprises a ring member sandwiched between the inner circumferential surface of the opening and the outer circumferential surface of the stopper member,
An engaging projection is formed at the lower end of the plug member, projecting radially outward from the lower end opening of the ring member.
A dispensing container in which the force required to pull the ring member upward from the opening is greater than the force required to pull the stopper member upward from the ring member. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the engaging projection extends continuously along the entire length in the circumferential direction. The dispensing container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the engaging projection is spaced radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the opening.